TEMA CEPS EXCEEDS TARGET (PAGE 29, JAN 27)

THE Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Tema has collected GH¢1.17 billion in 2008, exceeding its revenue target of GH¢1.05 billion.
The Sector Commander of the Tema Collection of the CEPS, Alhaji Mohammed M. Nasirudeen, said the collection point, described as the nation’s ‘bread basket’, was charged to collect about 80 per cent of the entire national revenue allocated.
This means that the service exceeded its target by seven per cent, Alhaji Nasirudeen announced at an awards ceremony held for its staff in Tema at the weekend.
He called on the personnel of the service to work with dedication and re-double their efforts, with the view to exceeding the target expected for the year 2009.
He also commended the staff of GCNet for making it possible for CEPS to exceed its target, and acknowledged the cordial relationship existing between CEPS and other stakeholders at the port.
He, however, said there were some hurdles to be cleared, citing voluntary compliance and explained that much as CEPS strived to make clearing procedures smoother and simpler, the activities of some importers and agents continued to hamper their efforts.
He, therefore, appealed to those who adopt all manner of tricks to avoid payment of taxes to desist from that, since that could result in loss of revenue to the state.
In an address, the Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Emmanuel Doku, congratulated the staff on their achievement, saying that despite the global economic crises which culminated in the tax relief, resulting in the downward review of tariffs on petroleum products and some food items, they excelled in their operations through vigilance and hard work.
Mr Doku said the service had made great strides in capacity building to improve on professionalism and qualitative changes which took place in the year 2008.
He gave the assurance that management would continue to roll out programmes to ensure that its corporate targets and objectives were realised for increased productivity.
“Your gain is a gain for the service and your loss is our loss,” he said, adding that attainment of the global revenue target of the service was heavily dependent on the performance of Tema.
Awards were given to hard-working personnel. A chief collector at the terminal, Mrs Rebecca Asah, received an award on behalf of the container terminal personnel at the Tema Harbour.
Other awards went to the Overall Best Junior Officer, Mr Emmanuel Amo, and the Overall Senior Officer Chief Collector, Yakubu Seidu of the Eastern Gate at the Tema Harbour.
They were given awards including certificates and carvings, while retirees were also presented with parting parcels.